My only question is - why don't more people use mulch?
It has all the benefits you gave but the reduction of time spent weeding is the major one for me. I've used various kinds of mulch and they have all worked very well.
Crushed pine needles is a delight to use for gardens as well as paths - so nice and soft on the feet!
Shredded straw worked very well in the vegetable garden and was so easy and quick to put down.
Pine mulch bags are heavy but using a barrel at a time makes it go fast enough. If I got the equivalent of a gallon of weeds from this 20' x 30' garden, from April through yesterday, it was a lot. I do spread it on thickly.
